Method and apparatus for cutting a part without damaging a coating thereon

Abstract

A method involves creating a recess in a surface of a part so the recess is adjacent a portion of the part, thereafter forming a coating on the surface of the part with a portion of the coating being disposed in the recess, and thereafter removing material of the portion of the part with a tool. According to a different aspect, an apparatus includes a recess-forming section that forms a recess in a surface of a part so the recess is adjacent a portion of the part, a coating section that forms a coating on the surface of the part with a portion of the coating disposed in the recess, and a material-removing section that subsequently removes material of the portion of the part with a tool.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of configuring an optical part comprising:
 creating a recess in a surface of said optical part so that said recess is adjacent a portion of said optical part; 
 thereafter forming a coating on said surface of said optical part, a first portion of said coating being disposed in said recess and a second portion of said coating forming a first side surface and a second side surface adjacent an edge of said recess, said first and second side surfaces positioned opposite each other; and 
 thereafter removing material of said first portion and said first side surface of said optical part with a tool. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said removing is carried out so that said second side surface of said coating is free of contact with said tool during said removing. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said creating is carried out in a manner so that said recess has a depth that is greater than a thickness of said coating. 
 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said creating is carried out in a manner so that said recess has a depth that is less than a thickness of said coating. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said creating is carried out with a further tool different from said tool used for said removing. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said creating includes utilizing diamond point turning to create said recess. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said creating is carried out in a manner so that said recess is an annular groove approximately concentric to an axis extending approximately perpendicular to said surface. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein said forming is carried out in a manner so that said first side surface faces toward said axis and said second side surface faces away from said axis, and said first portion of said coating being annular and being disposed radially outwardly of said second side surface; and 
 wherein said removing is carried out so that said second side surface of said coating is free of contact with said tool during said removing. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein said first portion of said coating is positioned in between said first and second side surfaces of said second portion; and 
 wherein said removing is carried out in a manner that creates a third side surface of said second portion and results in separation of said first and third side surfaces. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein said forming is carried out in a manner so that said first side surface faces away from said axis and second side surface faces toward said axis, and said first portion of said coating being disposed radially inwardly of said second side surface; and 
 wherein said removing is carried out so that said first side surface of said coating is free of contact with said tool during said removing. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein said first portion of said coating is positioned in between said first and second side surfaces of said second portion; and 
 wherein said removing is carried out in a manner that creates a third side surface of said second portion and results in separation of said first and third side surfaces. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 further including configuring said optical part by splitting said optical part into a first and a second section that are physically separate from each other, said first section including said second side surface. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 ,
 further including configuring said optical part to be a lens by retaining and utilizing said first section of said optical part. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein said removing has the effect of splitting said optical part into a first section and a second section, said first section including said second side surface and forming a central annular portion, and said second section including said third side surface and forming an outer annular portion, the method further comprising retaining and utilizing said first section and discarding said second section. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said recess is spaced inwardly from an edge of said optical part. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said removing further comprises rotating said optical part about an axis extending approximately perpendicular to said surface. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein said removing further comprises creating a circular path that is concentric to said axis.